Alpine Accentor - bird of the high mountains.
11th August 2019
A classic bird of the high mountains is the Alpine Accentor, it’s not called that for nothing! These pretty little birds really like it up high, breeding amongst the rocks and vegetation on remote mountain slopes. These were a big target bird for us and as a result we were right up in the High Carpathian mountains in Romania looking for them. The snow had melted and the road was now passable - it's usually blocked until at least mid - June most years! We drove around hairpin after hairpin as we climbed right up to the top of the ridge.
We had located two birds flying around, high up in the rocks above us - but not giving good views. They frustratingly remained distant for most of the time we were there and i thought that the chance of a shot was remote at best. As the day progressed we had decided to walk lower down to look at the views across the valley.
As we approached an old derelict building on the side of the road two birds were flitting around the ruins. Unbelievably, when I looked through my bins I could see they were two Accentors - all that time spent waiting for them to come nearer up on the rocks and here they were down near the roadside – typical!!
They were feeding amongst the rocks and vegetation and were taking no notice of me whatsoever. Closer and closer they came – even attempting to mate at one stage, and I was able to get a few shots – at last!
Notice the white throat patch and yellow base to the beak.
They really are a very nice little bird and it was worth the effort to see them.
We had located two birds flying around, high up in the rocks above us - but not giving good views. They frustratingly remained distant for most of the time we were there and i thought that the chance of a shot was remote at best. As the day progressed we had decided to walk lower down to look at the views across the valley.
As we approached an old derelict building on the side of the road two birds were flitting around the ruins. Unbelievably, when I looked through my bins I could see they were two Accentors - all that time spent waiting for them to come nearer up on the rocks and here they were down near the roadside – typical!!
They were feeding amongst the rocks and vegetation and were taking no notice of me whatsoever. Closer and closer they came – even attempting to mate at one stage, and I was able to get a few shots – at last!
Notice the white throat patch and yellow base to the beak.
They really are a very nice little bird and it was worth the effort to see them.